Antonio Cassano, the Milan and Italy striker, has been given the definitive go-ahead to start playing again following minor heart surgery.

A 10-man commission gathered by the Italian Federation of Sports Medicine approved Cassano's return on Monday and Milan's own medical institute added its assent.

Cassano was hospitalised after falling ill with stroke-like symptoms on the team plane following Milan's 3-2 victory at Roma on 29 October, then had surgery six days later to repair a small cardiac malformation.

The 29-year-old resumed training on his own in January and with his team-mates last Thursday, although time is running out for him to make Italy's European Championship squad.